Zesco
ZESCO Limited is Zambia's wholly state-owned national electricity utility, generating, transmitting, and distributing power to residential, commercial, industrial, and mining customers across Zambia from a current installed capacity of 3,500–3,900 MW, targeting 10,000 MW by 2030.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersLusaka, Zambia
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Zesco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zesco
- Legal name
- ZESCO Limited
- Website
- https://zesco.co.zm
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- ZESCO Limited is Zambia's wholly state-owned national electricity utility, generating, transmitting, and distributing power to residential, commercial, industrial, and mining customers across Zambia from a current installed capacity of 3,500–3,900 MW, targeting 10,000 MW by 2030.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zesco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electricity Utility Services
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interconnection Hardware & Substation Integration (Transformers, Switchgear, Breakers, Metering) (EUAMAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers) (EUAMAFAE), Grid-Scale Power Conversion & Interconnection (PCS, Grid-Tie Inverters, Converter Stations) (IMAGAAAI), Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines) (EUAMAFAF), SCADA/DMS/OMS Integration, Upgrades & Managed Services (EUAEANAE), Energy Management Systems & Plant Controllers (PPC, AGC Participation, Curtailment Control) (EUAMAIAI)
Keywords
Where Zesco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lusaka
- HQ country
- Zambia
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zesco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Electricity Supply and Transmission: ZESCO operates as Zambia's national power utility, generating revenue through electricity generation, transmission, and distribution services. The utility supplies power to households, businesses, and the mining sector under power purchase agreements with independent power producers.
Distribution channels1 record
Zesco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZESCO generates, transmits, distributes, and supplies electricity throughout Zambia as the country's national power utility. It serves households, commercial and industrial businesses, and the mining sector through the national grid, and integrates electricity from independent power producers under power purchase agreements as part of Zambia's energy diversification strategy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electricity Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
- ZamWatt Clean Electricity Supply Initiative
- Grid Connection Services for Independent Power Producers
Quantifiable outcome
- Supports Zambia's target of increasing annual copper production to 3 million tonnes through reliable power supply
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Zesco
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zesco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Zesco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KS Eco Solutions HoldingscoreZESCO and South Korea's KS Eco Solutions Holdings signed a purchase agreement for a 500-megawatt solar plant combined with a 500MWh battery energy storage system. The project supports Zambia's goal to expand power generation capacity to 10,000 MW by 2030 and addresses significant power deficit.
- China Machinery CompanyminorChina Machinery Company developed the 50-MW Mansa Solar Plant in Luapula Province, completed in 10 months from February to December 2025. The US$48 million facility is the first major power generation investment in the region in over six decades.
- GreenCo Power Services LimitedcoreGreenCo manages operational responsibilities including scheduling, metering, and financial settlement for the ZamWatt initiative, supplying solar, wind, and hydropower projects with battery storage to commercial and industrial customers.
- SunShare EnergycoreThe Zambian government and SunShare Energy signed a US$246 million agreement to expand the Nambala Solar PV plant by 200 MW, increasing total capacity to 250 MW. ZESCO governs the expansion through a Power Purchase Agreement.
- GlobeleqcoreGlobeleq launched the Leopards Hill hybrid renewable energy project combining 250 MWp solar PV with 150 MW/600 MWh battery storage. ZESCO signed a Grid Connection Agreement with Globeleq for export capacity and national grid integration.
- First Quantum MineralscoreFirst Quantum Minerals receives clean energy from a 100 MW solar photovoltaic project in Chisamba. GreenCo Power Services purchases electricity and supplies it to First Quantum Minerals, freeing up grid capacity for households and small businesses.
- DZGM Energy ResourcesminorDZGM Energy Resources signed a Power Purchase Agreement with ZESCO to develop a 100 MW hybrid wind and solar project in Zambia, scheduled for implementation within six months as part of Zambia's energy diversification strategy.
- Bajel Projects LimitedminorBajel Projects Limited completed and commissioned a 132kV Single Circuit Transmission Line Project for ZESCO in Lusaka, involving three transmission lines totaling 13.5 km to enhance grid reliability and reduce transmission losses.
- Stardust Solar Energy Inc.coreStardust Solar secured a 20-year government-backed power purchase agreement with ZESCO for a 30MW utility-scale solar project. The deal has a fixed tariff of US$0.07 per kWh and is expected to generate US$60-90 million in gross revenues over the contract term.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Zesco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mainstream Energy Solutions / Power Holding Company of Nigeria successor entities: Operator of large hydropower (Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro) and a major offtake counterparty in Nigeria — analogous to ZESCO as a state-anchored IPP-integrating utility on the African grid.
- Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd: South Africa's state-owned vertically integrated power utility, the closest direct peer to ZESCO — generation, transmission, and distribution monopoly serving a Southern African economy with dominant coal baseload and a comparable Industrial/mining-driven load profile.
- Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL): DR Congo's national state-owned utility, a direct peer for vertically integrated generation, transmission, and distribution monopoly, hydropower exposure (Inga), and mining-sector load profile (copper, cobalt) closely analogous to ZESCO's serving Zambian copper mines.
- NamPower: Namibia's state-owned vertically integrated power utility, a regional peer operating under similar SAPP market structures with hydropower imports and IPP-driven renewable diversification.
- Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO): Tanzania's state-owned vertically integrated power utility, structurally identical to ZESCO in generation, transmission, distribution, hydropower exposure, and IPP-driven renewable expansion strategy.
- Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC): Kenya's state-owned national electricity distribution utility and dominant offtaker for IPPs — a direct comparator in business model (state offtaker + IPP integrator), regulatory monopoly, and renewable diversification efforts.
- Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA / ZETDC): Zimbabwe's national state-owned utility with generation, transmission, and distribution monopoly — directly comparable as a Southern African hydropower-anchored utility facing capacity deficits and IPP integration challenges.
Emerging players
- Scatec ASA: Norwegian renewable IPP with a growing Sub-Saharan Africa utility-scale solar and battery storage pipeline — comparable to ZESCO's IPP counterparties and to the broader African utility-of-the-future model that ZESCO is positioning itself alongside.
- Globeleq: UK-based pan-African independent power producer actively building generation capacity that ZESCO offtakes under PPAs and grid connection agreements (e.g., Leopards Hill 250 MWp, Lunsemfwa 56 MW). Comparable as a renewable IPP directly transacting with ZESCO, and a peer for understanding offtake economics.
Broad incumbents
- Enel Green Power / Enel Africa: Global incumbent utility/Renewables developer with active Sub-Saharan generation interests. Relevant as a broad incumbent benchmark for utility-scale renewable integration on African grids where state utilities like ZESCO are the offtakers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zesco social profiles
Digital presenceZesco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zesco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Zesco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zesco M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zesco
What does Zesco do?
ZESCO generates, transmits, distributes, and supplies electricity throughout Zambia as the country's national power utility. It serves households, commercial and industrial businesses, and the mining sector through the national grid, and integrates electricity from independent power producers under power purchase agreements as part of Zambia's energy diversification strategy.
Is Zesco a public or private company?
Zesco is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Zesco founded?
Zesco was founded in 1970. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Zesco based?
Zesco is headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia, in the Africa region.
How does Zesco make money?
One revenue line is on record: electricity Supply and Transmission.
Who are Zesco's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mainstream Energy Solutions / Power Holding Company of Nigeria successor entities, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL), NamPower, Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA / ZETDC). Emerging players are Scatec ASA and Globeleq. Enel Green Power / Enel Africa is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Zesco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zesco.
What industry is Zesco in?
Zesco's product category is Electricity Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAIAK, Interconnection Hardware & Substation Integration (Transformers, Switchgear, Breakers, Metering), with a secondary code of EUAMAFAE, Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers). Its NAICS code is 2211 and its SIC code is 4911.